1909-11 T206 Bob Bescher (Portrait)
1909–11 T206 Bob Bescher
Cincinnati Reds · National League · 350 Only print series
The 1909–1911 T206 Bob Bescher (“Portrait” pose) is part of the legendary “White Border” tobacco set — The Monster. This card depicts Bob Bescher, a member of the historic Cincinnati Reds (National League), and was printed in the 350 Only series, known with 9 tobacco-brand backs. Across PSA and SGC, roughly 961 examples have been graded, with only 19 in NM 7 or better — a reminder of how tough this issue is in high grade.
About Bob Bescher
Robert Henry Bescher, born in London, Ohio in 1884, attended Notre Dame and starred as a football halfback at Wittenberg before signing his first pro baseball contract in 1906. A big (6'1"), switch-hitting leadoff man and left fielder, he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds after a strong 1909 minor-league season and made the majors to stay. Bescher became one of the deadball era's premier base stealers, leading the National League in stolen bases four straight years from 1909 through 1912. In 1911 he swiped 81 bases—breaking his own 1910 mark of 70 and setting a modern NL record that stood until Maury Wills in 1962, and a Reds franchise record that lasted until 1962. In 1912 he led the league with 120 runs and finished fifth in Chalmers (MVP) voting. Nicknamed "The London Flash" for his hometown and blazing speed, he played 11 seasons (1908–1918) for Cincinnati, the New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cleveland, batting .258 with 1,171 hits and 428 career steals, but never reached a World Series. He died in 1942 when a train struck his car near London, Ohio.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Confirmed backs (9)
Chip colour marks each back's rarity tier. See the full T206 back rarity ranking →
Population (PSA · SGC)
| Grader | Total | NM 7+ | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 & Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 594 | 15 | 43 | 90 | 139 | 114 | 127 | 66 |
| SGC | 367 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 63 | 83 | 76 | 98 |
NM 7+ bundles grades 7–10; 1 & Auth bundles grade 1, 1.5 & Authentic. Totals are subject-level (summed across all backs). Population as of 2026-06.
PSA by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Piedmont 1910 | 319 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 39 |
| Polar Bear | 34 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 30 |
| Sweet Caporal | 26 |
| Cycle 1910 | 13 |
| American Beauty 1910 | 11 |
| Tolstoi | 4 |
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 2 |
| Drum | 1 |
| Unknown back | 115 |
SGC by back
| Back | Graded |
|---|---|
| Broad Leaf 1910 | 3 |
| Cycle 1910 | 9 |
| Piedmont 1910 | 242 |
| Polar Bear 1909-11 | 37 |
| Sovereign 1910 | 31 |
| Sweet Caporal 1909-11 | 1 |
| Sweet Caporal 1910 | 41 |
| Tolstoi 1909-11 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1909-11 T206 Bob Bescher card?
The Bob Bescher (Portrait) is one of 524 subjects in the T206 "White Border" tobacco set issued 1909-1911, the hobby's most iconic vintage set (nicknamed "The Monster"). It pictures the Cincinnati Reds player and was inserted in cigarette packs across 9 different tobacco-brand backs.
How rare is this T206 card?
Across PSA and SGC, roughly 961 examples of the Bob Bescher have been graded, with only 19 grading NM 7 or higher, so mid-grade copies are obtainable while high-grade examples are genuinely scarce.
Which backs does the T206 Bob Bescher come with?
The Bob Bescher is confirmed with 9 tobacco-brand backs: American Beauty, Broad Leaf, Cycle, Drum, Piedmont, Polar Bear (Scrap), Sovereign, Sweet Caporal, Tolstoi. The back brand is a major driver of both scarcity and value.
Is the T206 Bob Bescher valuable?
Value depends heavily on the back brand and the card's grade: common backs in low grade trade modestly, while scarce backs and high grades command strong premiums. Check the current T206 Cards listings and eBay options above for live pricing.
Other poses of Bob Bescher
More Cincinnati Reds cards
Sources: t206resource.com, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Inside T206 by Scot Reader. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.